Foundation garment



ug. 25, 1936.` Q BROWN 2,052,163

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Sept. 19, `1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

rA TTORNEY?.

Aug. 25, 1936. C, BRQWN 2,052,163

FOUNDAT ION GARMENT Filed Sept. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 IN VEN TOR.

` rammed Aug. 2a 1936 rarest oFFics FEUNDATION GARMENT Caroline hrown, New York, N. Y.

hppiicaticn September it, 1935, Serial No. lill,218

This invention relates to foundation garments and has as an object the provision of an improved construction which will work in harmony with the muscle and ligament structure of the body by 5 gentle persuasive power in order to correct the posture of the body and tend to straighten thev figure of the person.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foundation to aid and support the muscle structure of the body in its movements and particularly to lift and support the busts during motion.

A further object is to prevent binding through the groin and retardv and constrict the thighs of a person during activity.

This invention is combined corset and brassire, constructed so as to remedy a great many faults contained in the usual types of foundation garments.`

In the other types of foundation garments the forces are usuallyy circumferentially of the garment, in other words, there is no longitudinal force to tend to contract and straighten the body to its natural position. instead of aiding the muscles in their work the ordinary corset retards the muscles by stress f opposite the muscle actionv and exerts pressure against such muscles when there should be supporting aid to these muscles.

The gist of this invention is in the combination oi non-stretchable and elastic materials out and pieced together in a manner so as to follow the muscle structure oi the body in order to exert gentle persuasive pressure upon the active muscles by elastic members and lifting and su porting aid upon such parts oi the body that require such help by non-elastic materials of diiierent qualities. i

This combination of stretchable and nonstretchable materials will tend to correct the position of the body because the force of the inaterials acts as a couple and in opposite directions, not on the same point, thereby tending to produce rotation and thusl aiding the muscles needed to be helped. The natural tendency will be to straighten the spine, inate the chest and force the shoulders into place.

By constructing the garment in my manner, perfect freedom of movement is insured with suiiicient stretchability and elasticity so that the garits normal and proper position.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features" of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended thereto.

ment will remain adjusted upon the wearer in` In. the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention.

` Figure 1 is a front view of the foundation garment.- y y Figure 2 is a rear view of same.

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 taken through lines 3-3.

Figure 4 is a section of Figure 1 taken through lines I t.

`Figure 5 is a developed back View of the gar- 10 ment. I

Referring to the reference characters in the drawings, numeral lll of Figure 1 is an anterior y member of non-stretchable material of a shape as shown in the drawings and covering the cen- 15 trai front part of the person. This member is lined with material 35 as shown in Figure 3, thus giving a stronger construction to the main central member I0. Joined to the sides of member I0 by stitches, are members Il and I2, made of an 20 elastic material, known by the trade-name lastex, and stretchable in the direction as indicated I by the heavy arrows. The diagonal edges of stretchable members Il and I2 are seamed vto non-stretchable member Il) at approximately a Q5 45 angle and extend around to the rear of the garment. Y

This angle will vary with the length of the waist of the person. To each of the longer lower sides oi members II -and I2 are seamed elastic members it and It, stretchable in the direction as indicated by the heavy arrows extending around to the rear of the garment and are joined together at the overlapping corners as by stitching'. These diagonal hip elastic members i3 and 35 it cover the gluteus medius muscles and stretch in the saine direction as these muscles, aiding such. muscles in their work. Members II, I2, it and it which extend to the rear of the garment are finished with elastic' piping by means of stitching and the bottom'v edges of members It and It are finished with elastic piping while Atwo edges are turned in and have attached thereto the female part of snap fasteners, as shown by number I5 oi Figure 5. It should be noted that 45 members it and i4 pull at right angles to the forces of elastic members Il and I2, respectively, thus causing these members lto cooperate with one another.- Instead of elastic piping at the edge of members Il, I2, I3 and I4, elastic facing may 50 lbe substituted. V

` To each of the oblique sides of non-elastic member l0 and to the upper angular sides of members Il and l2 are seamed members i6 and I1. which are substantially triangular in shape 5g dit and are stretchable in the direction as indicated by the heavy arrows. These members I6 and I1 ald and support the lower fibers of the pectoraiis muscles, emanating from the sternum and are stretchable in the same direction as these muscles.

To the oblique sides of members I6 and I1 and along practically the full length of these sides are attached by arcuate seams non-elastic members I8 and I9, substantially triangular in shape. 'I'hese latter members act as supports for the breasts and together with non-elastic members 20 and 2| act as breast pockets. The members 20 and 2| are also substantially triangular in shape having their lower corners Joined as by seaming to the oblique part of the apex of member I0. It should be noticed that the elastic members I6 and I1 are attached to each of the lower sides of the non-elastic members 20 and 2|, respectively, thus giving greater comfort and support to the breasts. The inside of the breast pockets composed of non-elastic members I8, I9, 20 and 2| are lined with fine net material as indicated in Figure 5, which shows members 20 and 2| broken away. This net lining N gives greater comfort to the breasts acting as an air cushion between the outer material and the skin of the person.

At the apex of non-elastic member I0 and between members 20 and 2| is attached member 22, stretohable as indicated by the heavy arrow. This member 22 is not essential to the garment, but is an aid in holding the breast pockets together, giving firmer support to the breasts should such aid be necessary.

To the lower long sides of members I3 and I4 is attached, as by seaming, triangular shaped elastic member 23 stretchable both horizontally and vertically. This triangular member 23 presses yieldingly and persuasively. against-the gluteus maxius muscles thus tending to hold the seat of the wearer from protruding and at the same time having suillcient elasticity to allow for the expansion of the garment that would naturally follow when the wearer takes a sitting position.

Elastic garters members 24 and 25 are attached, as by sewing to the lower edge of triangular member 23 and when secured to the stockings at the rear of the leg act as means of anchoring the garment so that it will not move upward upon the body. Elastic garters 26 and 21 are attached at the junction point between the angles of triangular member 23 and the lower portion of stretchable members I3 and I4. These elastic garters are attached to the hose at the front part of the leg, following the lines of the muscle structure of the leg, and act as an anchorage for the sides of the garment.

At the upper angular portion of members 20 and 2|, shoulder straps 28 and 29 are attached as by stitching, long enough to cover the sho'ulders. The portion of the shoulder straps falling over the back is joined to elastic members 30 and 3 I, which latter members attach to the upper part of members and I2, thus giving an additional amount of play to the shoulder straps in the event of greater movement of the shoulders.

At the base of non-elastic anterior member I0 are placed, along an inside tape, 36, (as shown in Figure 4) a series of female snap-fasteners 32, as shown on Figure 5 and in the section Figure 4. Female snap-fasteners 32 of member I0 are for the reception of male snap-fasteners attached to a soft fabric, known technically as a ng-leaf portion, which will convert the garment into a combination step-in and corset arrangement. The rear portion of said iig-leaf portion" contains a series of buttonholes for the reception of buttons 33 as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Each cf 5 these buttons is attached to narrow elastic bands 34, which are attached and terminate near the base of triangular member 23. The attachment of this cut fig-leaf fabric member to the elastic strips 34 will give this iig-leaf member sufficient play, thus preventing binding in the groin when the wearer takes a sitting position.

When the weight of the body is rested on one leg, an imaginary axial line drawn through the body becomes a curved line and imaginary lines drawn through the shoulders and across the pelvis will be in substantially at right angles to the curved axial line, bringing the hip point higher on the side which supports the ligure and closer to the shoulder point on the same side.

Similarly, when the weight of the body is shifted to the other leg, the trunk contracts on the side which carries the weight and expands on the opposite side, thus bringing the shoulder and hip closer together on the side carrying the 25 weight.

Thus, it will be seen that there is a great deal of expansion and contraction to the sides of the body when the weight of the body is shifted from the one leg to the other.

My invention comprises elastic means to support the muscle structure during the flexing and contracting of the muscles of the body at the same time applying an elastic force upon such muscles and the skeleton of the body which tends to correct the balance of the body. This force acts as a. couple so that the forces applied act in the same direction.as the muscles of the body without applying binding circumferential compression at any point to the body.

Upon raising of one shoulder the force is diagonally applied across the front of the garment, through non-elastic member I0 and across the back of the garment, diagonally across the elastic members so that a gentle uplifting force will act upon the oblique abdominal externus muscles and upon the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle, thus drawing in the abdomen by a gentle uplifting pressure so that the body assumes a correct and natural position.

In the drawings the warp and Woof threads of the cloth and elastic members are designated by intersecting lines which appear as squares to show the proper manner of joining the members in order to give the strongest type of construction to the garment.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made to the detailsof the invention without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended 60 claims.

I claim:

1. A foundation garment of the character described, consisting of an inelastic front member covering the front central portion of the body, 65 two elastic side and hip members, said side members being stretchable only in a direction upwardly divergent from said inelastic front member, said hip members being stretchable only in a direction downwardly divergent from said inelastic front member.

2. A foundation garment of the character described, consisting of an inelastic front member covering the front central portion of the body. two elastic side and hip members, said side mem- 76 l 2,052,163 bers being stretchable only in a direction upwardly divergent from said inelastic front member, said hip members being stretchable only in a direction downwardly divergent from said inelastic front member, a rear member triangular in shape and stretchable in two directions.

3. A foundation garment of the character described, consisting of an inelastic front member covering the front central portion of the body, two elastic side and hip members, said side members being stretchable only in a direction upwardly divergent from said inelastic front member, said hip members being stretchable only in a direction downwardly divergent from said inelastic front member,` a rear member triangular in shape and stretchable in two directions, two

triangular portions 'below the busts and stretchable in the same direction as the side members.

4. A foundation garment of the character described, consisting of an inelastic front member covering the front central portion of the body, two elastic side and hip members, said side members being stretchable only in a direction upwardly divergent from said inelastic front member, said hip members being stretchable only in a direction downwardly divergent from said inelastic front member, a rear member triangular in shape and stretchable in two directions, a pair of shoulder straps and garters attached to thev lower portion, exerting a force diagonally across the` garment.

CAROLINE BROWN. 

